Strategic decision creates one-stop shop

A long-term strategic decision to create a specialist division that coordinates the activities of all its subsidiaries has positioned Manica Group Namibia at the wellhead of the rapidly developing oil and gas sector in the country. Manica’s oil and gas division provides, coordinates and arranges any logistics support to national and international oil and gas clients that explore and operate in Namibia or offshore in Namibian waters This includes the use of local facilities for repairs, storage and other related activities. In the past decade Manica has been the choice service provider for oil rigs using the ports of Walvis Bay for repairs and Lüderitz for offshore support husbandry and logistics services, according to Patrick Kohlstaedt, general manager of Manica Logistics. “We put together a dedicated task team for each of the oil and gas projects we work on,” he says. The task team provides a single point of entry for the full range of Manica group services, which cover all customs clearing, forwarding, ships' agency, lubrication products and other services required by rigs and drilling vessels. Manica has added strategic procurement of equipment and materials to the mix, according to Kohlstaedt. Having a dedicated team allows Manica to work very closely with the oil and gas companies, and fully integrate the logistics and drilling operations. One of the drilling companies is so close it is using office space in the Manica building in Walvis Bay. “We strive to build up trust between ourselves and our clients in order to provide strategic support services,” he says. Manica has support offices in Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Lüderitz. INSERT & CAPTION We put together a dedicated task team for each of the oil and gas projects we work on. – Patrick Kohlstaedt